Director, Total Rewards

COMPANY SUMMARY

Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: ESRT) is a NYC-focused REIT that owns and operates a portfolio of well-leased, top of tier, modernized, amenitized, and well-located office, retail, and multifamily assets. ESRT’s flagship Empire State Building, the “World's Most Famous Building,” features its iconic Observatory, ranked the #1 Top Attraction in New York City for the fourth consecutive year in Tripadvisor’s 2025 Travelers’ Choice Awards: Best of the Best Things to Do. The Company is a recognized leader in energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality. As of June 30, 2025, ESRT’s portfolio is comprised of approximately 7.8 million rentable square feet of office space, 0.8 million rentable square feet of retail space and 743 residential units.  More information about Empire State Realty Trust can be found at esrtreit.com and by following ESRT on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and LinkedIn. 

The dedicated team at ESRT is a collection of diverse individuals with a shared passion for excellence and a keen eye toward future growth. Headquartered in New York City, we harness the energy of the city in everything we do. We care for one another, work hard, and have a lot of fun doing it! We are Certified™ as a Great Place to Work® by the global authority, Great Place to Work®, on workplace culture, employee experience, and leadership behaviors. We prioritize and invest in the health and wellness of employees to attract, develop, and retain top-tier talent. ESRT values continuous employee development and encourages colleagues to excel in their roles and adapt to emerging business needs. From our crown jewel, The Empire State Building, to incredible buildings modernized for the 21st century, to outstanding customer service, and our decade-long leadership position in sustainability and energy efficient portfolio that is 100% fully powered by renewable wind electricity, we take pride in our work. ESRT seeks an equally passionate colleague to join the team, understand the vision and help achieve that vision. 

POSITION SUMMARY

The Director, Total Rewards will be responsible for leadership of the design, implementation, governance, and continuous improvement of the organization’s Total Rewards program, which includes payroll/compensation, benefits, 401K, and other related areas. This position will dually report to the EVP, Chief Financial Officer & Chief Accounting Officer and SVP, HR Strategy & Operations, but will require collaboration and buy-in from all departments. This position requires a proven track record with the ability to manage direct reports, deliver measurable business outcomes, ensure compliance, and drive efficiency. 

• Lead payroll operations and administration to ensure accuracy, efficiency, and compliance
• Maintain oversight of the Company’s 401K plan including vendor assessment, negotiations, and regulatory matters
• Ensure accurate budgeting and recording of compensation related costs and review the recurring monthly compensation accounting entries posted by Corporate Accounting
• Maintain organized database of all aspects of compensation (history of salary, bonus, equity grants) and ensure accurate record-keeping (including all offer letters, grant documents)
• Execute annual and mid-year compensation processes in partnership with SVP, HR Strategy & Operations
• Ability to lead successful transition to new Total Rewards/HRIS system
• Direct all aspects of benefits strategy and administration, including health and wellness programs and retirement plans
• Manage the process to obtain, process, and communicate annual compensation (Cash/Equity) updates including valuation of equity awards
• Develop compensation budgets, forecast spend and build a process to ensure our annual and mid-year changes fall within budget and are aligned to business goals; Prepare and document thoughtful analysis to summarize variances against budgets and forecasts to aid in decision making
• Work closely with the HR department to ensure accurate budgeting and recording of compensation related costs and prepare the recurring monthly compensation accounting entries
• Oversee and execute pay equity analysis with outside vendors as needed
• Ensure compliance with global regulatory requirements (e.g., ERISA, GDPR, WARN, TUPE)
• Partner with IT and cross-functional stakeholders to maximize the use of HRIS, analytics tools, and automation technologies
• Drive continuous improvement and transformation initiatives across HR, enabling greater transparency, consistency, and efficiency

• Seamlessly integrate into our existing payroll and benefits processes, with an intent to enhance efficiency and ensure compliance
• Employee engagement and customer service is at the forefront of our culture and must be modeled in this department
• Anticipate future trends and align programs with long-term organizational goals
• Collaboration is needed to build trust and alignment across teams and with employees
• Deliver scalable, compliant, and efficient HR solutions

• Experience with Union employee payroll is required; Experience with SEIU Local 32BJ, IUOE Local 94, and IUOE Local 30 preferred
• Extensive experience with HRIS/Payroll systems; ADP Workforce Now preferred
• Practical experience with financial analysis
• Strong communication, leadership, and collaboration skills
• Proficient in accounting systems (preferably Yardi Voyager)
• Strong skills in Excel and Microsoft Office
• Executive compensation experience preferred
• CCP (Certified Compensation Professional) certification a strong asset
• Experience with process automation software such as Alteryx and/or Power BI highly preferred

• Minimum of 10 years of professional experience working in an organization with exposure to multiple departments, service line leaders and teams
• Minimum of 6 years of experience with payroll management and compensation
• Minimum of 6 years in a supervisory role
• Bachelors degree required; MBA is a plus

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times

• At ESRT, like our tenants, our employees come from everywhere. We foster a collaborative work environment that captures top talent and cultivates the best ideas. As a Great Place to Work® Certified employer, we are committed to maintaining our positive work culture where employees are engaged and can grow and develop. In addition, ESRT employees embody our Company Culture & Success Factors -
• Adaptable – you are a self-starter who’s able to quickly digest and execute new processes to work both collaboratively and independently
• Dynamic – you are solutions-oriented, aim to improve processes and implement efficiency, and offer insightful feedback to improve ESRT
• Dependable – you take a strong sense of ownership and accountability over your work
• Passionate – you keep up with industry trends and are excited about the potential to propel the industry forward with a “roll-up-your-sleeves” attitude
• Curious – you consistently look for new ways to work smarter, not just harder
• Ethical – you treat others with respect, act with integrity in how you perform your work, and embrace our collaborative culture
• Positive – you possess a service-oriented attitude with excellent follow through

• Competitive base salary and bonus
• Health/Dental/Vision insurance
• Company sponsored Life, AD&D, STD (with Salary Continuation), and LTD Insurance
• Voluntary Enhanced LTD Program
• Voluntary Hospital, Accident, and Cancer Programs
• 401(k) with 100% match up to 5%
• Paid parental leave
• Pre-tax transit accounts
• Employee Assistance Program for emotional, financial, and legal support

• Generous paid time off
• Flex remote work time
• Flex Summer Fridays
• Employee engagement programs
• Volunteer time off
• Continuing education
• Complimentary Empire State Building Observatory access
• Complimentary gym membership and other wellness benefits
• Employee Discount Programs

ESRT is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing a workplace free from harassment and discrimination. We celebrate the unique differences of our employees because they drive curiosity, innovation, and the success of our business. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, reproductive choices, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, pregnancy, parental status, caregiver status, genetic information, political affiliation, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including hiring, promotion, demotion, compensation, training, working conditions, transfer, job assignments, benefits, layoff, and termination. Reasonable accommodations that do not create an undue hardship for the Company are available for applicants and employees with disabilities or sincerely held religious beliefs.